- Date posted
- 6y ago
- Date posted
- 6y ago
I struggle with false memories every day. Ocd has the power to distort and twist past memories. You can look up other stories on other forums simply google pocd and false memories, however it can be easy to get got up in the reassurance train. My only advice and one I struggle to apply every day, is recognize that trying to “remember” or ruminate just gives the ocd more power. It distorts the memories even more. Regular people who don’t have a memory of something wrong is enough to satisfy them. For ocd sufferers, absolute proof or certainty is the only thing that will satisfy us. Which is impossible. Also I don’t think you are a terrible person, even if you kissed a child or your brother. It would just be a kiss, and children do silly things. I certainly did. Try to relax, don’t focus on what’s real and what’s not real. Try to forgive yourself, even tho you don’t have proof it’s real, just practice forgiveness for yourself. Talking to God helps me. The more time you let pass practicing mindfulness to just let the false memories thoughts just pass by and not ruminate on them, the more easier it will be to believe the false memory is not real. And there are times I honestly am not sure if I can call mine false. And then times I’m convinced I could never be so horrible. That overwhelming feeling of doubt is the ocd. Best wishes friend xxxxx
- Date posted
- 6y ago
One of the stranger things with it all. I’ll have a memory or flashback that i certainly did or a time i certainly felt well and great and I’ll have the thought that no i really didn’t, i know it’s false, everything about it is false BUT it feels legitimate. Then I’ve had to go back and think more and it turns into a cycle. I’ve been trying more so to just not even go back and legitimize the thoughts because if it truly was a problem then, i would’ve reacted then. It’s tough but going back over 1000s of times hasn’t gotten me anywhere.
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Thank you so much to everyone who has replied. This has helped a lot knowing that I’m not alone. OCD is extreme key difficult because you’re constantly obsessing over everything and it literally interferes with a routine. OCD basically is my routine now. Thank you for the help, or really means a lot. I’m wishing you all the best too xxx
- Date posted
- 5y ago
False memories are the hardest part about this disorder. I find that the better I get at treating them as intrusive thoughts the less real they feel and logic and reality sets back in! Stay strong and keep doing the exposures
- Date posted
- 6y ago
It’s true, it’s a futile search to ruminate. I don’t think I have problems with my memory because I remember things from ages ago. If the harm or wrong we fear DID happen, it would be so emotional / or a big deal, we surely would have it burned in our brains.
- Date posted
- 6y ago
I get false memories.. it's the absolute worst
Related posts
- Date posted
- 15w ago
I went to bed one night in November, and I can't quite say what happened, but I believed that I had a "memory" from childhood. I won't discuss what, but I had "remembered" doing something sickeningly awful. This thing came to me almost as clear as a real memory. I remember thinking something along the lines of 'How could I forget doing something like that?' followed by a feeling of complete horror and terror. I have moments of "clarity" where I can't believe that I'm questioning doing this thing, and it appears obvious that it's false. But now, I'm more than often believing that I did. I am spending 24/7 fighting my head, and it's taking me to dark places. I know this is the worst thing to do, but you don't understand, if this is real then I am a monster and I can't just adopt the 'maybe I did, maybe I didn't approach'. I just can't. I have to know. I'm so scared. My entire life is on the line. I don't have anyone to talk to about this. Literally no one. I feel like I'm insane, like I'm a monster, like I'm hiding my true identity from everyone I love. Does this sound like False Memory? Or am I in denial, trying to convince myself this didn't happen? Why does it feel so real? And why do I have moments of clarity? I also had my first nightmare about it last night. Please someone help me.
- Date posted
- 8w ago
Any advice? I just got triggered by false memory OCD. There is no indicator or memory of me doing anything bad, only the what if. So how can I deal with uncertainty because if I did do the false memory it would go against my morals?? Not something extremely unforgivable just like not ideal and against my morals… I don’t know if it happened. I have no memory of my false memory happen only the “what if” which is enough to scare me FOR CONTEXT: I was in the mental hospital when I was 16, and made a few friends. Some just a grade below me, so 14-15. I remember bringing up in convo someone I met previously at the mental hospital earlier in that year a different time I was hospitalized , to which a boy responded he knew her, and they did (seggsual) stuff at their school. The girl I was talking about at that time was 14. So im assuming the boy was 14 as well. 13 and up is together in the hospital, so he couldn’t be younger than 13. I have no memories of him flirting with me or me flirting with him. Or anything bad happening. Literally just “what if”.. or what if he wasn’t 14 but 13 and u said something inappropriate or flirted with him. I will never be able to know what happened and I’m sick thinking about this. 13 and 16 is NOT WITHIN MY MORALS. I am worried because the only inappropriate I guess convo had is when he was telling me what happened between him and that girl I knew. I also remember him having a bulge down there and it freaked me out and made me feel weird at the time because I noticed it. (At this time I was already diagnosed with OCD and experienced POCD) I try to tell myself maybe maybe not. But the what if it did happen makes me feel like a p33do, and me thinking it didn’t happen doesn’t satisfy me because I don’t have 100 percent certainty
- Date posted
- 8w ago
im going to be vague here, but basically i did something in the past that i regret and it became a huge point of my OCD but i have talked to my therapist and i have mostly moved past it. i watched a video by an OCD youtuber that really put it into perspective. anyway, i have been with minimal worry for a few days, but now im having worries related to i think false memory? basically it’s like “oh but what if i said/ did this and just forgot that means i harmed this person im a bad person”. to me it sounds like textbook OCD but im just wondering if anyone else has experienced false memory / real event at the same time. i have a really horrible memory which is making it even more stressful. any responses are appreciated!
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